Report: Major Dissension Plagues Manhattan D-A Office

DA Bragg, President Trump

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office "canceled" the planned grand jury meeting as part of the investigation into former President Donald Trump, amid speculation of a possible indictment, two sources familiar told Fox News. 

The grand jury was slated to meet Wednesday and was expected to hear from at least one additional witness, but Fox News has learned that Bragg's office "canceled" the proceedings. 

The grand jury was placed "on standby" for Thursday, a source told Fox News.  "We can’t confirm or comment on Grand Jury matters," Bragg's office told Fox News. 

Two sources familiar told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that the grand jury was canceled amid "major dissension" within the district attorney's office. One source claimed the district attorney is having trouble convincing the grand jury on potential charges due to the "weakness" of the case.

Despite rumors of a potential imminent indictment, sources familiar told Fox News Digital that Trump has not been formally notified about whether Bragg actually plans to bring charges against him. 

Sources told Fox News, though, that there remains a real chance that Bragg does not choose to indict the former president.

TV Ratings: March Madness + 60Minutes Put CBS On Top

The NCAA men’s basketball tournament helped “60 Minutes” draw its largest audience since Jan. 8 as CBS finished first in the network race for the sixth time in eight weeks.

The news magazine was the top ranked prime-time program between March 13 and Sunday, averaging 8.261 million viewers for a broadcast with a two-part report on the state of the U.S. Navy and a profile of billionaire businessman Rocco Commisso, owner of the Italian soccer team ACF Fiorentina, according to The L-A Times citing live-plus-same-day figures released by Nielsen on Tuesday.

“60 Minutes” followed a 39-minute overrun of CBS’ afternoon coverage of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in the Eastern and Central time zones.  The Jan. 8 edition of “60 Minutes” averaged a season-high 11.215 million viewers for Prince Harry’s first American television interview in connection with the release of his memoir “Spare.”

The only two other prime-time programs to average more than 7 million viewers also aired on CBS — “NCIS,” second for the week averaging 7.187 million viewers and “FBI,” third averaging 7.164 million.

CBS had 11 of the top 12 prime-time programs and averaged 5.15 million viewers. Those included the highest rated prime-time sporting event, Texas’ 71-66 victory over Penn State in a second-round NCAA men’s basketball game Saturday, fifth for the week, averaging 6.631 million viewers; the top rated comedy “The Neighborhood,” eighth averaging 5.534 million viewers; the ratings leader for programs beginning at 10 p.m., “NCIS: Hawai’i,” ninth, averaging 5.153 million viewers; and the most popular first-season program, the police drama, “East New York,” 15th, averaging 4.745 million.

NBC finished second, averaging 2.94 million viewers. It had the leading non-CBS program, the March 13 edition of “The Voice,” which was fourth for the week averaging 6.99 million viewers. ABC was third, averaging 2.85 million viewers, with “American Idol” leading its lineup for the fourth time in the five weeks it has aired this season, averaging 4.884 million viewers, 14th for the week. The only interruption to that streak was the week that ABC aired the Oscars. Fox averaged 2.21 million viewers. The procedural drama “9-1-1” was its top program for the second consecutive week, finishing 17th, averaging 4.381 million viewers.

The top 20 prime-time programs consisted of nine CBS scripted programs, its news magazine “60 Minutes” and its alternative series “Survivor”; two editions of the NBC singing competition, “The Voice”; one NCAA men’s basketball tournament game each on CBS and TNT; three ABC programs — the alternative programs “American Idol” and “America’s Funniest Home Videos” and the scripted firefighters drama “Station 19” — and two Fox programs, “9-1-1” and the singing competition, “The Masked Singer.”

New Effort to DeFund NPR Faces Uphill Battle

Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) has  introduced the No Partisan Radio and Partisan Broadcasting Services Act, or the NPR and PBS Act, which would end the federal government’s financial support of both National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). 

The legislation will prohibit federal funds from being used to support NPR or PBS, thereby ending these outlets from pushing their radical-left agenda on the American people with taxpayer dollars.

Rep Ronny Jackson

Jackson said: “When NPR and PBS were established by Congress, it was with the notion that their content would remain unbiased and benefit every American, however it is obvious that NPR and PBS have abandoned their founding principles. For decades, radical Democrats have siphoned hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to NPR and PBS under the guise of ‘serving the public’ despite sharing all the same propaganda of any other radical-left corporate news outlet. Taxpayers should not be forced to support biased media like NPR and PBS against their will, which is why I am proud to introduce legislation that will end federal funding to these deceptive, partisan news outlets.”

Jackson’s bill currently has no co-sponsors. It also does not have a companion bill in the Senate. It will likely also face an uphill battle if prior attempts to cut-off public radio and television funding are any indication.

But despite the talk about cutting federal funding, CPB funding has remained in the budget. President Biden’s latest budget proposal released this month includes more money for public media. The latest budget proposal includes $575 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in the 2026 fiscal year.

Wake-Up Call: Trump Reportedly Ready For The Perp Walk

The grand jury investigating Donald Trump’s role in a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels will reconvene today, according to people familiar with the matter.  It wasn’t clear why they skipped a session Wednesday. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office declined to comment. The grand jury could still hear from additional witnesses, or prosecutors could formally present charges, the final step before the panel votes on whether to indict. The former president has denied any wrongdoing and accused Bragg, a Democrat, of damaging his electoral prospects for his 2024 presidential bid.

Trump widens lead over DeSantis in 2024 GOP presidential nomination showdown: poll https://t.co/lI1HslFmI5

— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 23, 2023

➤FEDS DO IT AGAIN: The Fed raised interest rates by another quarter-percentage point The ninth consecutive monthly increase aimed at battling inflation brings the benchmark federal-funds rate to a range between 4.75% and 5%, the highest level since September 2007. Will this rate hike be the last? In its post-meeting policy statement, the Fed hinted that banking-sector stress might prompt the central bank to change course, omitting a phrase used in the past eight missives: “ongoing increases.” Despite Chair Jerome Powell’s assurance that the banking system is sound, financial stocks fell. Short-term Treasury yields, which closely follow Fed policy expectations, also declined as traders discounted how much more the central bank would raise rates going forward.

As Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen testifies before lawmakers about the collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, @CHueyBurns reports on the steps being taken to ensure the stabilization of the U.S. banking system. pic.twitter.com/TmWpnGowlr

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 22, 2023

➤BIDEN APPROVAL DROPS: Approval of President Joe Biden has dipped slightly since a month ago, nearing the lowest point of his presidency as his administration tries to project a sense of stability while confronting a pair of bank failures and inflation that remains stubbornly high. That’s according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which shows there have been modest fluctuations in support for Biden over the past several months. The president notched an approval rating of 38% in the new poll, after 45% said they approved in February and 41% in January. 

Fox, Dominion Lawyers Spar Over Top Executives' Liability

Lawyers for Fox Corp and Dominion Voting Systems clashed in court on Wednesday over whether top Fox executives including Chairman Rupert Murdoch should be considered liable in the voting-technology company's $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit over 2020 U.S. election vote-rigging claims aired by Fox News.

Reuters reports Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis wrapped up a two-day hearing without ruling on requests by both sides that he decide elements of the case in their favor without moving to a full trial.

Dominion accused Fox in its 2021 lawsuit of destroying its business by airing false claims that its machines were used to rig the 2020 U.S. presidential election against former President Donald Trump and in favor of Democrat Joe Biden. Dominion has argued that liability for the claims extends to the highest echelons of Fox.

A Fox lawyer disputed the claim on Wednesday, arguing that executives including Murdoch were not directly involved in the allegedly defamatory television appearances by Trump lawyers, who falsely claimed Dominion stole the election.

"They need to bring it home to someone who's directly involved in the publication," lawyer Erin Murphy said.

Dominion lawyer Justin Nelson argued that evidence amassed during the discovery phase of the case, including emails, shows that top Fox executives did not believe the claims but aired them anyway in pursuit of ratings.

MLB Legend Will Be On ESPN's Broadcast Opening Day

ESPN's broadcast of the Houston Astros' 2023 season opener next week will reportedly feature a special guest in the booth alongside announcer Karl Ravech and analysts Eduardo Perez and Buster Olney.

The Houston Chronicle reports seven-time Cy Young winner and former Astros pitcher Roger Clemens will join the trio as the Astros host the White Sox to kick off their World Series defense, according to the Houston Chronicle's Matt Young. Clemens will serve as the broadcast replacement for David Cone, who will participate in the Yankees' Opening Day broadcast on the YES Network. 

"We've enjoyed working with Roger during his impressive KayRod Cast appearances and can't wait for him to join our opening night broadcast team as special guest game analyst," ESPN senior vice president Mark Gross told Young. "The insights Roger has gained from his storied career, including his ties to Houston, will help inform the audience as the Astros begin their title defense and the sport begins a new era of gameplay."

Clemens, 60, still lives in the Houston area. He attended Spring Woods High School, then pitched at San Jacinto College and the University of Texas before his MLB career. He spent three of the final four seasons of his 24-year career in Houston, a trio of impressive campaigns from 2004-06. Clemens won the American League Cy Young award in 2004, then was even better the next year as he posted a 1.87 ERA in 211 1/3 innings. Clemens tallied 354 wins and 4,672 strikeouts across his illustrious career, though he has still not been enshrined in Cooperstown due to speculation regarding performance-enhancing drugs.

Stern Trashes MSNBC For Going 'Berserk' Over Pending Arrest

SiriusXM radio host Howard Stern slammed MSNBC and other mainstream media news outlets for "going f-----g berserk" about former President Donald Trump’s potential indictment and arrest.

The host claimed that media channels have been devoted a ton of coverage to something that no one, not even Trump, knows will happen or not.

Stern made his comments on Wednesday's episode of "The Howard Stern Show." The host seemed exasperated with the fever pitch surrounding the rumors that Trump would be arrested this week over an indictment related to hush money payments he made to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016.

Not even Howard Stern can find the words to defend MSNBChttps://t.co/YkNTv7eMMW

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 22, 2023

‘Friday Night Baseball’ Returns to Apple TV, No Longer Free

Major League Baseball’s Opening Day is coming up fast, and fans who enjoyed watching games weekly on Apple TV+ will be happy to hear that games will return to the service on April 7. While the games had always been intended to be on Apple’s subscription TV service, the company made the entire 2022 season available to anyone with an Apple TV account in a series of regular announcements. Now in the second season of broadcasting games, the streamer has indicated that they will all air on the subscription side of the streaming service in 2023.

The Streamable reports the first game of the “Friday Night Baseball” double-header of the season on Apple TV+ will feature the Texas Rangers traveling to historic Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs. Both of these squads missed the 2022 MLB playoffs, and both are looking for bounce-back years that will take them into the postseason in 2023.

The second game will pit two playoff squads from last season against each other. The NL East-winning Atlanta Braves will host the wildcard San Diego Padres. Atlanta and San Diego never met during the 2022 MLB postseason, so this game will give fans the chance to see what could have been if the Braves had beaten the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.

“We can’t wait for ‘Friday Night Baseball’ to start up again, and we’re excited for fans to experience everything new we’re bringing this season,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services. “Apple TV+ truly has something for everyone, from two live baseball games every Friday night, to an incredible slate of award-winning original films and series — there’s never been a better time to sign up.”

Fox News Reporter Reunited With Son During Live Report

Fox News Channel senior correspondent Alicia Acuna broke away from a live report on a shooting at a Denver high school when she saw her son—a student at the school—for the first time, pulling him into a hug. “Excuse me, my son just came up and I have not seen him,” Acuna said on America Reports. “I’m sorry. I have not seen my kid since this all went down.”

Denver-based Fox News reporter @aacuna1 sees and embraces her son as he leaves East High school after today’s shooting. pic.twitter.com/jPt60YhhO6

— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) March 22, 2023

Forbes reports an emotional Acuna said she had been working on another story Wednesday morning when she started getting text messages from her son, who said police officers had interrupted an assembly and ordered the students to shelter in place. “I kept in contact with him over text because he had to stay silent.”

The shooting, which happened just before 10 a.m. in Denver, led to a citywide search for the gunman, who shot and wounded two teachers at the school before running from the building.

Westwood One Sports To Air Sweet Sixteen Games

Cumulus Media’s Westwood One, the largest audio network in the U.S. and the official network radio partner of the NCAA, will broadcast live coverage of the Men’s Sweet Sixteen on Thursday, March 23 and Friday, March 24 beginning at 6 p.m. ET each night.

Westwood One will also broadcast live coverage of the Men’s Elite Eight on Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26 as well as the NCAA Men’s Final Four® on Saturday, April 1 and the national championship game on Monday, April 3 in both English and Spanish.  

Westwood One’s schedule for the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight:

Former BFA President Jim Thompson to Be Honored

Jim Thompson, well-respected radio and TV broadcast industry executive and long-time President of the Broadcasters Foundation of America, will be honored posthumously with the Chairman’s Award at the Broadcasters Foundation Breakfast, 7:00 AM, Wednesday, April 19 in Room Bandol Two at the Wynn, Las Vegas. The Chairman’s Award is bestowed on an individual in recognition of their contribution to the broadcast industry. Thompson’s wife, Cindy, will accept the Award.

“Jim made an impact on everyone who worked for or with him,” said Scott Herman, Chairman of the Broadcasters Foundation. “He was always helping people in their careers and served as a mentor to many. His steadfast commitment to the mission of the Broadcasters Foundation was unwavering. It is fitting for us to honor his memory and contributions to our industry and the Broadcasters Foundation.”

March 23 Radio History

Paula Winslowe with William Bendix

➦In 1910...Paula Winslowe was born Winifred Reyleche (Died  at age 87 – March 6, 1996). She was a radio and television actress and is known for her role as Bambi's mother in the 1942 movie Bambi.

Winslowe played the role of Mrs. Martha Conklin in Our Miss Brooks on both radio and television. On radio, she played Peg Riley in The Life of Riley, She was also heard in Silver Theater, Big Town and Broadway Is My Beat.

She briefly portrayed Mrs. Foster on Big Town, which starred Edward G. Robinson. She starred in several episodes of Suspense, including June 14, 1955 ("The Whole Town's Sleeping") written by Ray Bradbury; July 11, 1956 ("Want Ad"); January 24, 1956 ("The Cellar Door"); and June 5, 1956 ("The Twelfth Rose").

➦In 1922...KMJ-AM, Fresno, California signed-on.

KMJ was originally owned by the San Joaquin Light and Power Corporation. It was later acquired by the McClatchy Newspaper Company in 1925. It is also the 38th oldest licensed, and continuously operated radio station in the United States.

KMJ operated on a number of other frequencies between 1925 and 1932; some of the frequencies used included 820 and 1350 kHz.

McClatchy was intent on improving the signal, and competed with KTAB in Oakland for a new frequency (580 kHz), which was being made available by the newly created FCC.

Eventually, they were awarded the new channel, and KMJ moved to 580 kHz in 1932, operating with 1 kW non-directional from a building rooftop in Downtown Fresno.

In 1936, a new 5,000-watt non-directional transmitter site was constructed, which utilized a 5/8 wave antenna, and was located 5 miles east of Fresno, at the northeast corner of the Kings Canyon Road and Fowler Avenue intersection.

The Fresno Bee - April 1940

In 1941, Hammer Field (which later became Fresno Air Terminal) was constructed, as a training base for the Army Air Corps. The KMJ tower was directly in line with the runway, and the Army wanted the site relocated.

The site was then moved some 16 miles west of Fresno, the existing tower was unstacked and moved as well; however, it was only 660 feet in height. The remaining 330 feet were stored on the site, with the intention of creating a directional array, altough World War II interrupted the project and it never resumed.

The extra portion was eventually moved to Sacramento, and used in the construction of the KFBK transmitter site in 1945.

Today, KMJ-AM operates on the regional channel 580, with 50Kw and a directional antenna array.

KMJ 580 AM (50 Kw, DA2) Daytime 2 mV/m contour

From 1925 until 1987, KMJ was owned by McClatchy Company, who also owned KFBK in Sacramento, KBEE in Modesto, KERN in Bakersfield, and KKOH in Reno. McClatchy Newspapers also owned three daily newspapers in Fresno, Sacramento, and Modesto. In 1953, McClatchy signed on KMJ-TV on channel 24. The television station would be sold off in 1981 to become KSEE.

In November 2006, KMJ and its sister stations KFPT (AM), KWYE (FM), KSKS (FM), KFJK (FM), KOQO (FM), and KMGV (FM) were sold by CBS Radio to Peak Broadcasting, for $90 million.

In March 2009, Peak Broadcasting replaced the KFJK Jack FM format on 105.9 FM, with KMJ-FM; it is a partial simulcast of KMJ-AM.

In the fall of 2012, Premiere Radio Networks exercised a termination clause and ended its relationship with both the AM and FM KMJ stations. As of January 1, 2013, all Premiere-controlled syndicated shows were moved to Clear Channel-controlled stations in the greater Fresno area. From 6:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, KMJ-AM broadcasts all live and local talk shows.

On August 30, 2013, a deal was announced in which Townsquare Media would purchase Peak Broadcasting, and then immediately swap Peak's Fresno stations, including KMJ, to Cumulus Media in exchange for Cumulus' stations in Dubuque, Iowa and Poughkeepsie, New York. The deal is part of Cumulus' acquisition of Dial Global. Peak, Townsquare, and Dial Global are all controlled by Oaktree Capital Management. The sale to Cumulus was completed on November 14, 2013.

Today the station airs a news/talk format.

WEW Chief Engineer Gordon Sherman 1933

➦In 1922...WEW-AM, Saint Louis, Missouri began broadcasting.

Saint Louis University established the station 9YK around 1912, using Morse code to communicate seismological and weather information. George E. Rueppel, assistant director of the Meteorological Observatory at SLU, worked with 9YK before he founded WEW in 1921. Audio transmissions began at 10:05 a.m. on 26 April 1921; the first voice heard was SLU president Rev. William Robison. The station received radio license #560 to broadcast on 618.6 kHz (wavelength 485 meters) as WEW on 23 March 1922;  KSD had been licensed on March 8.

And Your ACM Radio Awards Nominees Are...

The Academy of Country Music announced today ACM Radio Awards nominees for the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards™, including double nominations for Elaina Smith; KILT-FM in Houston, TX; KUZZ-FM in Bakersfield, CA; KXKT-FM in Omaha, NE; WBYT-FM in South Bend, IN; WMIL-FM in Milwaukee, WI; WQDR-FM in Raleigh, NC; WSIX-FM in Nashville, TN; WXTU-FMin Philadelphia, PA; and WYCT-FM in Pensacola, FL. Winners of the ACM Radio Awards will be announced ahead of the 58th ACM Awards, with more information to follow in coming weeks.

“Country Radio’s contribution in furthering the genre, promoting artists, and providing the soundtrack of our daily lives is incredibly impactful,” Academy of Country Music CEO Damon Whiteside said. “We’re excited to announce the nominees for the ACM Radio Awards and proud to celebrate these champions of the genre.”

The 58th Academy of Country Music Awards will take place Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, TX and will stream live exclusively on Prime Video around the globe. The show will give fans in Texas and around the world a nonstop party to celebrate Country Music’s biggest stars. Tickets are available to purchase now at Seatgeek.

The full list of 58th ACM Awards nominations will be announced in the coming weeks, as will talent bookings for the show itself, including hosts, performers, and presenters, and detailed plans for ACM Awards week events in Frisco, including opportunities for fans to come out and take part in ticketed and free and open-to-the-public programming marking Country Music’s Party of the Year.

58th ACM Radio Awards nominees are:

Fox and Dominion Urge Judge to Rule on Case

In what’s playing out like an extended preview to the $1.6 billion First Amendment prize fight between Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News, both sides threw opening punches Tuesday in a Delaware court, where a judge is hearing summary arguments and other matters ahead of next month’s scheduled trial.

The Wrap reports Dominion Voting systems opened this round, arguing before Judge Eric Davis that Fox News made a “household name” out of Sydney Powell, let hosts “run wild” and developed what the judge called a “Lou Dobbs problem.” Fox countered in the afternoon, arguing that a “reasonable” viewer could easily discern that the network was reporting on allegations and newsmakers’ theories.

Both sides have asked Davis to rule summarily in their favor, a routine stop for any civil trial that rarely works. But Fox and Dominion each put significant resources into their summary arguments and supporting documents, which have been widely picked over and scrutinized. Davis was not expected to rule on the motions for summary judgment during the pre-trial hearing spanning Tuesday and Wednesday.